A FRIENDSHIP SHAPED AROUND MUSIC: THANKS, DAVE EAST

In prison, friendships developed like a seed; they took time, love and patience to bloom. You would think that there was a secret for making a friend in an environment like prison, but truly, no, relationships just happened like when Rah moved into my cell in Augusta State Prison.

The day I met Rah, we would've bypassed one another if we weren't cellies, being that I'm nearly 15 years older than him. Plus — because we're New Yorkers — he's from Queens and I'm from Manhattan. We're basically rivals, as much as the Yankees and the Mets... but in prison, we used New York as an exclusive club where only New Yorkers were allowed in. This was especially true while we did our time in Virginia.

Our upbringing shone brighter than a diamond amongst those not from New York in prison. We had our lingo (accent if you will), our swag, and our adaptability to what constantly came our way. Some felt we were threats because we're outsiders, so they would disrespect us, scam us, or just press us to see if we would buckle under the pressure. Prison made it hard for the weak to survive inside, and we always had to step up and show our mettle.

Respect gave us our path to being seen as certified men--and that allowed the silliness of prison to evaporate around us and let our time inside begin. When that occurred, we discovered who we were inside. For me, that was working to make amends for my crimes and getting a college education, while Rah took therapeutic programs to become a better man for himself and his children. This was where we clicked.

Most nights we would have what we called Podcast. The topics of the day would be about family, religion, freedom, food, New York--a bunch of stuff that interested us. Now, what really shifted gears in our friendship was our taste in music.

Our musical selection was exactly the same. It truly was crazy when I played Benny The Butcher's Tana Talk 3. I used my tablet hooked up to my television to blast my music for the housing unit to hear. This was when we would sit back and drink prison hooch. Rah would get loud and shout, "Henny Boys," which was what he and his crew called themselves when enjoying the club scene in the free world. Me, I just enjoyed being able to cut loose with someone from New York with great music in our backdrop.

Most days, we would get on the Jpay system and search for new albums to purchase. I would always cope them first, because I had the cheesecake hustle that brought me in a nice sum of money. We would listen to Moneybagg Yo, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Dave East, Dip Set and many other artists that would keep our heads in the streets.

The most memorable times arrived when Rah would cook for our crew. He would use our footlockers to prepare our penitentiary cuisine: Freaky Tacos, Logs, Pizzas, and wraps. I watched him while I deejayed. Truly, the food always was great and our soundtrack took us the hell out of prison.

Now, even with good times, there were also moments of sadness. We had a close proximity to a gang fight, one where a good friend of ours chose to fight over a phone--and we had a choice to make: fight, or take a step back? We chose the latter, and while on lockdown, Rah and I really opened up about our decision-making. The kind that would keep us in prison forever, or not. That night, we had a mixtape from a deejay playing for 3 and a half hours. Music soothed our souls while in a congested cell, dealing with life and death decisions.

The saddest moment was when Rah had to transfer. We were teary-eyed men who hugged it out and wished one another the best. In my heart, I hoped we would keep the connection going via emails between our families...but life inside prison, you never knew. Man, I'm alone in my cell, listening to Rah's playlist he made on my tablet. I just drifted off, smiling about our time together. We had some great moments, and we had anthems from our favorite music artists to lose ourselves to.

When Rah walked free from prison, I received an email from him and pictures. He...I cried viewing those pictures. My friend didn't forget about me. Like the young kid said, "Rah's a real one." We soon connected on the phone and our podcast started right back up, but this time, he gave me insight on life outside. To me, it was everything to discover how life was and Rah didn't hold back in sharing.

We talked about life, but then music. He would be on YouTube, catching and watching concerts and music videos. Those songs he loved, I would purchase them and rock out in the recreation yard, feeling like I was right next to him at a concert.

Recently, Rah went to Dave East's Karma 4 Tour in Maryland. He told me he started thinking about me, and how I loved Dave East's music--and that zoned him out by putting on his headphones. The audience noticed, as did Dave East, who fist bumped his chest as Rah gathered himself. Rah shared that he wished I were there to enjoy the music we loved. That would've been amazing.

Dave East rapped, "I was sitting in a cell, cooking to Hell Rell." Me, I'm in my cell, reminiscing about a friend while that song plays. Thanks, Dave East, for showing us our connection through music.